Orange Peel Extract Mediated Silver Nanofluid as Corrosion Inhibitor for X80 Steel in Simulated Oilfield Scale Dissolver

Silver nanofluid was prepared by bio-reduction reaction between orange peels extracts (OPE) and silver nitrate and characterized by spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. Colloidal nanoparticles of sizes between 40 – 50 nm and spherical shape were obtained. The nanofluid was applied as anticorrosion additive to inhibit corrosion of X80 steel in simulated oilfield scale dissolver solution (1.0 M HCl) at various temperatures. The nanofluid (OPE-AgNPs) was 98.9 % and 84.3 % efficient at 30 ºC and 60 oC respectively as determined by weight loss measurement. In comparison with OPE, OPE-AgNPs shows better corrosion inhibition and higher resistance to thermal degradation. Some kinetic and thermodynamic models were used to characterize the inhibition process. OPE-AgNPs could be optimized and used as alternative anticorrosion additive for scale dissolution liquor in the industry.

Purification of 89Sr from FBTR irradiated Yttria target by extraction chromatography using HDEHP impregnated XAD-7 resin

89Sr is used in bone pain palliative care of cancer patients and the same is being produced presently via the 89Y(n, p)89Sr reaction by irradiating yttria target in Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR). An efficient separation method was standardized for the removal of bulk yttrium target by extraction chromatography using di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (HDEHP) impregnated on XAD-7 resin. In the present paper, the extraction behavior of Sr(II) and Y(III) was studied as a function of the concentration of nitric acid in the aqueous phase and concentration of HDEHP in the resin phase. The separation of Sr(II) and Y(III) was standardized using the above resins and the method was subsequently applied satisfactorily for the removal of yttrium from the dissolver solution of FBTR irradiated yttria pellet towards the purification of 89Sr. A baseline separation of 89Sr and Y was achieved. Leaching and breakthrough capacity studies were evaluated for the resins and it was established that the stability and capacity of the resins were satisfactory. The breakthrough capacity was found to be 12 mg Y(III) per gram of the HDHEP resin whereas the leaching studies established that the resins are stable for multiple cycle of operations.

Molybdenum and lanthanum as alternate burn-up monitors – development of chromatographic and mass spectrometric methods for determination of atom percent fission

A rapid high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and thermal ionisation mass spectrometric (TIMS) methods have been developed for the separation and estimation of fission product elements molybdenum and lanthanum for the burn-up measurements on the dissolver solution of Indian pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR) spent fuel. Reverse phase chromatography method was developed to separate molybdenum from dissolver solution using mandelic acid as mobile phase and a dynamic ion exchange chromatography technique was used for the separation of lanthanum as well as neodymium from a dissolver solution. Sample loading methods which resulted in enhanced ionisation efficiency have been developed for the TIMS analysis of HPLC separated molybdenum and lanthanum fractions. Ascorbic acid mixed with silicic acid in HCl medium was used for loading the molybdenum on to a rhenium filament to obtain stable and intense ion beam. A novel sample loading method for lanthanum in which a mixture of graphite + boric acid (H3BO3) + silica gel was employed to achieve enhanced and steady ion beam formation of LaO+. Concentrations of species of interest were determined employing suitable spikes by isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) method. The developed methods were adopted for PHWR dissolver solution to establish molybdenum and lanthanum as alternate burn-up monitors. The burn-up data obtained were compared with the well established method of neodymium as fission product monitor. This is a first study of its kind where the data obtained by using molybdenum and lanthanum as fission product monitors were compared with that obtained by Nd-148 method.